Chapter 3
Sexy Dancer
After a few days, Tito Hunter had finally given me information about the Croix, the ravens, and Eleanor. Pero ang sa mga Croix muna ang pinagtuunan ko ng pansin.
Ayon sa mga nakalap niya, twenty-five years palang ang tinatagal ng underground organization ng mga Croix, unlike sa amin na mas matanda pa sa aking ina. They called it Soul Devourer because they rip souls even from innocent people just so they could get what they want.
Lourd Croix was the headmaster of their organization. His wife, Pauline Croix, died in a covert battle between two mafias, five years ago. I heard about this from my Mom way back. It was a base war between the Rogue Raven and the Soul Devourer. Sa kalagitnaan ng combat battle ng aking ina at ni Lourd, binaril si Pauline. The killer was identified as Sicarius Alegros, a soldier (a newbie, member with the least rank) of Rogue Raven. He wasn't caught nor seen after what happened. Some say the Croix already killed him.
This was the same reason kung bakit nagkaroon ng iringan sa Croix at sa mga Suarez. Lourd blamed my mother for his wife's death. But I'm pretty sure, she has nothing to do with the murder. Ang alam ko'y pinaiimbestigahan din ni Mommy ang nangyari noon. Hindi ko lamang alam kung may progress.
Pauline and Lourd have three sons. Alistair Joel, the eldest. Axis Jeo, the middle child. And Aster Jeno, the youngest.
Alistair was their org's first commander. Siya rin ang namamahala sa mga weapons na ginagamit sa battles at siya rin ang nagte-train ng mga newbies. According to his records, he has been linked to a lot of young ladies, a womanizer.
Axis was in-charge of the Croix's business. Among the three, he was the most abominable and mysterious. Unlike his older brother, he was never linked to a woman. He must be really serious about managing their company.
Aster, who was just fifteen years old, is still a newbie to their organization. He is being trained by Alistair. But it was stated that he's good at sports and is a good fighter.
May iba pang mga files sa mga pinakamagagaling na fighters ng mga Croix pati ang mga taong involved sa kanilang black business yet none of the information was helpful. I need to know the location of their headquarters. Iyon ang importante. O kahit ang address ng tinitirhan ni Axis. All their properties were included in the files, but how would I know kung saan doon specifically tumutuloy ang mga Croix?
Sa rami ng nakasulat na properties, hindi mapagkakailang mayaman sila. Now that I mentioned it, mayaman naman sila, so why the trouble of asking me to steal the necklace kung pupwede naman nilang makuha iyon sa auction through money?
I reviewed the files of the seven ravens of the Rogue Raven. Lahat sila'y pinagkakatiwalaan ni Mommy. Ngunit paano kung isa sa kanila ay traydor. One of them might've leaked information about me. Paano malalaman ng mga Croix iyon kung walang nagkalat?
The seven ravens were also ranked from one to seven. The R1 is the leader of all. Apat ang lalaki at tatlo ang babae. They were trained to rip and kill, but they have their individual skills as well. For example, their leader, Cooper, is a stealth assassin. He could kill someone quietly and cleverly without being noticed. Si Huntress naman na anak ni Tito Hunter ay isang sniper.
The Seven Ravens
R1. Cooper Polzin
R2. Aurelia Bohm
R3. Wine Haven Acer
R4. Moses Scipio Blackwood
R5. Huntress Artemis Alegria
R6. Venezio Freud
R7. Kouzumi Kazuki
Most of them were a member of Rogue Raven for a long time because of their family. I don't think any of them is capable of breaking their loyalty lalo na't ang mga magulang nila'y naging parte rin ng organisasyon. And I don't see any connection between them and the Croix.
The most probable suspect among them is Wine dahil palagi siyang kasama sa bawat execution ng plano ko. And he's the only one that I know personally. Ang iba'y isang beses ko pa lang nakita.
Sunod kong binalikan ang information kay Eleanor. I have read every information about her a year ago, bago ko pa siya isali sa black business ko. As far as I know, never pa siyang sumali sa isang underground organization. I once invited her to join Rogue Raven, but she declined. Wala namang nagsasabing mayroon siyang link sa mga Croix. Besides, she's always with Wine, and if that bastard is a loyal raven, he would know if Eleanor's a traitor.
Bumuntonghininga ako't tinago ang mga files sa ilalim ng aking drawer. Paano kung wala naman palang spy ang Croix?
Isinantabi ko muna ang pag-iisip tungkol doon at nag-pokus sa pag-aasikaso ng plano. I researched more about the Heart of the Ocean and I found out kung sino ang may hawak nito ngayon.
Yuan Cho is a Chinese businessman venturing in the Philippines. He was a graduate of business administration at Harvard and was declared tenth among the richest man in the world last 2013.
Ayon sa interview niya noong isang araw, binigay daw sa kanya ng kanyang ina ang kwintas na iyon. Which was a total lie kung totoo man ang sinasabi ni Axis na pagmamay-ari ng pamilya nila ang kwintas.
I heard my phone rung, so I picked it up and answered Eleanor's call, "Yes?"
"Hansen Galileo IV. I heard he'll be in the city tonight. Sa isang bar called Unit 69. Baka makatulong sa 'yo since siya ang namamahala sa GP."
"Thanks. Siguro I'll go there later. I just have to finish something," I informed. "You'll come with me?"
"Wine won't approve. Alam mo namang he hates clubbing. 'Tsaka we'll have our dinner sa Galileo's mamaya."
"Again?" Kanina lang ay doon din sila nag-lunch.
"Yes. I need to deliberately watch the security room. Nagdi-disguise naman ako para hindi halata. I can't go through the employees' files and scheds so, mano-mano ang ginagawa ko," aniya. "Besides, masarap ang foods nila. Kahit mahal, it's worth it."
"Oh, right. That's a lot of effort. Thanks."
"And by the way, I saw your young CEO kanina sa GP. Kausap ang ilang staff..." aniya bago ibaba ang tawag.
'Di naman na ako minor kaya pwede na akong magliwaliw sa mga bars. Besides, Mom's not strict naman. Si Dad ang hindi approve sa pagpunta ko sa mga ganoong lugar, but he can't do anything about it.
I wore a black midriff top with its pair of black skirt. Above the knee ang palda ngunit 'di ganoong kaikli dahil ayoko namang mabastos (although, kung mabastos man ako, kayang-kaya kong lumaban).
Men these days thought na if a woman wears something revealing, it gives him the right to take advantage of her. Porke maiksi ang suot, akala'y ayos nang bastusin ang babae. Mga manyak.
Besides, I need a longer skirt to hide my weapons. I won't go anywhere unarmed. Resting flatly on my inner thighs was a gun. On the other was a dagger. Ang beads naman ng bracelet ko ay mga mini smoke bomb. Black beads were the deadly ones. The other beads which are red will make the people around doze to sleep. I'm also wearing a necklace. Ang fake pearl na nakasabit dito ay nakakapanlason once it hit the ground and explode. Isa pa'y magaling ako sa physical combat. Not exactly the best, but I'm good at it. In case lang naman na may mangyaring 'di inaasahan, kailangan ay ready ako.
Thank you so much, Rylan, for all these deadly accessories.
I painted my lips in red. Tapos ay naglagay ng black eyeliner at mascara. Kinapalan ko rin ang eye-shadow pati ang blush on. Ayokong makilala ako ni Hansen bilang isang Adaleah Alvarez. I need to keep my identity hidden para hindi ako mapaghinalaan. Inilugay ko lang ang buhok ko saka nagsuot ng four inches stiletto.
Bago umalis ay nagresearch pa ako nang kaunti tungkol kay Hansen Galileo IV. Turns out he's a bachelor. And he's handsome based on the photos in Google. He's only 27. I can go and flirt with him to seek for information.
I grabbed my pouch and went to Unit 69 using my grey Mercedes S63. My baby has been with me for two years already. It was surely reliable since the beginning. Mabilis ito at komportableng sakyan. Regalo sa 'kin ito ni Tita Dakota on my eighteenth birthday.
Pagkapasok ko ng club ay malakas na hiyawan at ingay mula sa kanta ang narinig ko. The scent of liquors and cigarette smokes were evident as well.
Mabilis akong tumungo sa counter para bumili ng isang cocktail drink. I need to loosen up first before finding Hansen. Mabilisan kong nilagok ang inumin nang ibigay sa akin iyon ng bartender. I raised my hand to ask for another one. Ramdam ko ang init sa aking lalamunan dahil sa ininom.
After three more drinks ay napagpasyahan kong igala ang mata sa paligid. Hindi mahirap hanapin si Hansen dahil nasa isang table siyang pinupuno ng mga babae.
Nakabukas ang tatlong butones ng kanyang polo. Humahalakhak siya habang nakikipag-usap sa mga babae niya. Playboy.
I lifted my chin and plastered my most seductive smile. Walang pakundangan akong naupo sa mesa nila, showing a small part of my legs in front.
"Hansen Galileo IV, am I right?"
Narinig kong nagsinghapan ang apat na babaeng kasama niya lalo na nang tumayo si Hansen para lapitan ako. "Yes, miss. How do you know me?"
Dahil malakas ang tugtugin ay nilapit ko ang bibig ko sa kanyang tainga. In a rasped voice, I said, "I've been looking at you for a while now. I see you're popular with girls. You're so damn attractive. I'm Miranda Underwood, by the way."
Ngumisi siya at pinulupot ang braso sa akin. Ibinaba niya ako sa mesa, "What can I do for you, Miranda?"
"Drink. Dance." Malakas kong sambit. I don't need him sober. He'll not divulge information if he's not drunk. Lumapit ako sa kanyang tainga at bumulong ng mapang-akit. "Make out in a dark corner, probably."
I squeezed his butt. Ha! London would be so proud of me once he knows I'm applying the dirty moves he told me once. Tips on how to turn on a guy daw. What an arse.
"Sure, hon." Ngumisi ito at dinala ako sa counter. Nagreklamo ang mga babae niya kanina ngunit mukhang natamaan si Hansen ng kagandahan ko. Ang bilis naman kasi niyang sumama.
I tricked him into drinking alcohol as many as he can. Ang sabi ko ay maglaro kami ng jak-en-poy at kung sinong matalo ay ibo-bottom's up ang inumin. Since I'm lucky tonight, siya palagi ang natatalo.
When I know he's drunk enough, I snatched his drink away and said, "I heard there'll be an auction on the 24th of September! Sa restaurant niyo, right?"
"Yes. From a Chinese businessman! Let's dance!" He grabbed my wrist and pulled me in the middle of the dancefloor. Hindi magkamayaw ang tao dahil sa mga bagong tugtugin.
Sinabayan ko sa pagsayaw si Hansen. Nakahawak sa likod ko si Hansen habang nagsasayaw. Kinembot ko ang baywang ko. "Who will organize the event?"
"Katrina Merced, she's our event organizer! Ooh, you look good!" He slapped my booty, making me want to slap his face, but I composed myself.
"What's her plan?" Tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa aking pang-upo at pinirmi iyon sa aking baywang. I swayed my hips sexily in front of him.
"I still don't know! She'll meet me tomorrow, after lunch! She'll show us the plan together with Mr. Cho!"
Hinawakan ko ang chest niya pababa habang sinasabayan ng pag-giling. "Where?"
"GP, of course. Third floor. Meeting hall. The room opposite the security's! Damn it!" he groaned then cupped my cheeks. He slammed his lips on mine, hungrily kissing me.
I've been to bars. Many guys have kissed me. So, this is nothing. I pulled his head closer to deepen the kiss. But when our lips parted, the show must end. I already have the information I need. "I have to go. Thank you for the night, Hansen."
Humakbang ako palayo sa kanya but he grunted and pulled me back. Kumapit siya nang mahigpit sa aking baywang at idiniin ako lalo.
"Already?" he asked huskily. I can already feel the bulge in his pants. Oh, boy.
"I'm sorry. I really need to go!" I said before leaning forward to give him another steamy kiss. Pulang-pula na rin ang labi niya dahil sa lipstick ko. Halos mapudpod ang labi ko sa sobrang wild ng halikan naming dalawa. When I pulled away, he was still in a daze so I took the chance to get away from him.
I forged my way out of the crowd. Dumiretso ako sa washroom para tanggalin ang make up ko. He'll not recognize me 'pag wala na akong make up. Nagpalit na rin ako ng pang-itaas. Itim na sando ang sinuot ko.
Matapos noon ay tinawagan ko si Eleanor, hoping na nasa GP pa rin sila. 9:30 palang naman. She answered the call after four rings, "Wine will kill you. Inistorbo mo dinner namin."
"You brought your things with you, right?"
"Yeah, nasa car. Bakit? You want me to do something?"
"I need you to put a recorder in the meeting hall. Third floor. Tapat ng security room. They'll talk about the auction there tomorrow after lunch. Can you sneak after the GP's closed or can you do it now?"
"You're underestimating my skills, dear friend," she scoffed. "Leave it to me. What else?"
"Connect mo 'yong mga security cam sa laptop mo."
"Done, already. Ano pa?"
"Wala na. Thanks." Then I ended the call. Eleanor's really reliable at times like this.
Pinusod ko ang buhok ko at lumabas na ng washroom. I almost got a heart attack when I saw Axis leaning on the wall in front of me.
He was wearing his all black outfit just like mine. If there's something we have in common, that'd be our adoration with the color black.
His black orbs scanned my outfit before he parted his lips to speak. "How's it going?"
"Great," I grinned. He looked hot with his disheveled hair. Mukhang kagagaling lang nito sa kama, ah.
"Got laid tonight?" I can't help but ask. Ngumisi ako nang magdilim ang paningin niya.
"None of your biz," he said coldly.
Guilty!
Mahina akong tumawa at naglakad na palayo but he grabbed my elbow to stop me. "I need to talk to you about our arrangement."
Tumango ako at tinuro ang isang free table sa pinakadulo ng bar. Madilim na sa parteng iyon. "Let's talk there. Masakit na ang paa ko sa kasasayaw kanina."
Tiningnan niya naman ang mga paa ko pero wala siyang sinabi. Nauna pa siyang i-okupa ang pwesto. Umupo ako sa harap niya at pinakawalan muna ang mga paa ko.
"I bet you already have a plan. You surveyed the venue a few days ago, and your minions were always around the place," he started. Nakahalukipkip ang braso niya kaya naman nagfe-flex ang muscles niya. He's not the type of guy na malaki ang katawan. Kumbaga, sakto lang. That's how I like it. I don't really like guys na masyadong bulky ang katawan.
"And you think I'll tell you about my plan?" I asked. "Just sit and wait, I'll give you your treasure."
He clenched his jaw. He really has a nice jaw. Ang itim niyang mga mata'y nakatitig nang seryoso sa akin. "My father demands a detailed plan, Ms. Alvarez."
"Stop calling me Ms. Alvarez. Adaleah is fine. Or Ada. Or if you want, you can call me Mrs. Croix," I flashed a playful grin. He didn't even react to that. Such a cold-hearted man.
Matagal niya akong tinitigan. If looks can kill, baka kanina pa ako patay.
I flinched when he suddenly slammed his palm on the table saka marahas na tumayo't inilahad ang kamay. "Dance with me."
I was caught off guard. What the hell?
That's really unexpected. I gaped at him.
He gave me a cold look before pulling me up and dragging me to the dance floor, "Wait! 'Yong heels ko!"
But he didn't mind. Hinila niya ako sa gitna ng dance floor kahit pa nakaapak lang ako. Lumakas bigla ang tugtugin at naghiyawan ang mga mananayaw.
"Seriously? Sumayaw na ako kanina. I'm tired of dancing." Inirapan ko siya at pinagkrus ang aking braso. "'Tsaka I thought mag-uusap lang tayo, bakit biglang magsasaya—"
Axis slammed his palm on my mouth to stop me from talking. Hinigit niya ako sa aking baywang at nilapit sa kanya. I stiffened when I heard him whisper huskily. "I want you to dance as sexy as you did with the man earlier, Miss Alvarez. You're a sexy dancer and I can't help wanting to see you dance in front of me. Dance for me, woman..."
Tinulak ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin. "I dance for information. May kapalit iyon. What do you offer?"
"Oh, I know," I added immediately when an idea struck my mind. "Bring me to your house."
I saw him smirked before pinching my soft arms, "Deal."